Gut Check followed this year's World Cup with unusual fervor, including our "World Cuppage" reports from venues around town, so indulge us as we pay our respects to one of our favorite characters from this year's competition. Paul the Psychic Octopus, who correctly predicted eight out of eight World Cup results, has died of natural causes. He was not quite three years old.

Via Eater comes this video of an Argentinean talk-show (?) host exacting revenge upon an  octopus -- already dead, mercifully -- after Paul the Psychic Octopus correctly predicted that Germany would defeat Argentina in the World Cup.

Paul, of course, finished the tournament with a perfect 8-for-8 record, including yesterday's final victory for Spain over the Netherlands. Not exactly NSFW, but unpleasant.

Here are a few photos and videos that encapsulate wild ambiance at Guido's on the Hill during Spain's 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final. Andrés Iniesta scored with just four minutes remaining in overtime to propel España to the first World Cup Championship in the nation's history.

It was unquestionably the busiest day the Spanish-owned bar/restaurant's history. They had a wedding party in the back banquet hall and a standing room only crowd of Spain fans in the front room. The bar sold out of both Estrella Galicia and Estrella Damm beer. They did not, however, run out of Olé Olé Olé chants.
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photos by Keegan Hamilton

Javier Mendoza goes loco after Spain's winning goal.

​There wasn't a Spain fan on the planet who was sure their team was going to win today. Everyone knew that they stood a decent chance of defeating the German juggernaut (they beat them two years ago in the EuroCup and were the favorites going into the tournament) but still, the odds were stacked against the Spaniards. And with decades of World Cup letdowns standing in the way of the country's first ever World Cup final, every person wearing red, yellow and blue from St. Louis to Sevilla had their doubts.

At Guido's -- the unofficial headquarters for Furia Roja fans in the city -- the pre-match atmosphere was palpably tense. The conversations oscillated between Spanish and English, filled idle chatter about changes to the starting lineup and the strength of the German side. Spain dominated the first half but never truly threatened to score. Then, in the 73rd minute, Carles Puyol put his curly-haired head on the ball and directed it into the back of the net to put his team ahead 1-0.

Guido's erupted.

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photos by Keegan Hamilton

How do you say "dominate" in German?

​This was complete and utter destruction of the Argentinians by the Germans...and the majority of the crowd at the Amsterdam Tavern couldn't have been more pleased with the annihilation.

Still, there were a few blue and white striped jerseys in the house and the trash talking between the two sides (until somewhere shortly after goal number three) was among the best of the tournament thus far. Here's a recap of the events/atmosphere that should take six minutes or less to read; in other words, about as long as it took the Germans to score against Diego Maradona's squad.

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photos by Keegan Hamilton

The Dutch fans went wild at Barrister's when their team beat Brazil

​During their Netherlands' 6:30 a.m. group stage match against Denmark a few weeks back, the Dutch fans at the Scottish Arms were less than lively. The Clockwork Orange won the match 2-0 amidst many yawns and gentle applause that was better suited for a golf tournament than watching a World Cup victory in a bar.

This time around, at Barrister's in Clayton, the Holland contingent was considerably more animated. It probably helped that their country upset Brazil, the seemingly unstoppable, goal scoring machine that knocked the Netherlands out of the tournament in both 1994 and 1998, and advanced to the semi-finals.

One fan wearing a bright orange polo shirt named Michel shouted in Dutch at the TV almost the entire second half. Depending on how his team was faring, he looked like he was either on the verge of an ulcer, cardiac arrest or orgasm. When the final seconds ticked off the clock in added time and the referee blew the whistle, setting his side's 2-1 victory in stone he jumped up and down and yelled at one point, "Revenge!"

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photos by Keegan Hamilton

No bull: the Spain fans at Guido's take their soccer seriously.

​If skirmishes haven't yet erupted on the Spanish-Portuguese border, the bullets (hopefully proverbial) will start flying shortly. There's a strong mutual dislike between the two nations and today's knockout round World Cup match definitely didn't do much for Iberian diplomacy in years to come.

Had a Portuguese person mistakenly strolled into Guido's Pizzeria & Tapas earlier this afternoon wearing a Cristiano Ronaldo jersey, violence probably would have been narrowly avoided but a war of words almost certainly would have ensued. Even without an actual green-and-white-clad foe in the building, the cadre of Spaniards in attendance put the fury in La Furia Roja.

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Ian Froeb

Yeah, the Brazilians LOVE football.

​Keegan is out of town for a few days. I will try to fill his boots.

The highly anticipated meeting between Brazil and Portugal -- ranked #1 and #3 in the world, respectively, by FIFA (and let's not even get into the historical baggage) -- was a dud. Yellow cards dominated the first half. The second half wasn't as chippy, but neither side managed many chances. Portugal, especially, seemed content to play for a draw, knowing that, unless Ivory Coast beat North Korea by nine goals, such a result would send them into the round of sixteen.

A dud, yes, but at Coco Louco Brasil it was also one heck of a party.

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Ian Froeb

Too. Much. Action. at the Post Sports Bar & Grill

​Keegan is out of town for a few days. I will try to fill his boots.

Why are the final matches in each group played simultaneously? Not for the entertainment value.

In 1982, unheralded Algeria finished group play with two wins and one loss, including a shocking defeat of powerhouse West Germany. The country would advance to the knockout rounds unless West Germany defeated Austria by a one- or two-goal margin.

Because these final group matches weren't played simultaneously, West Germany and Austria knew the elimination scenarios before kickoff. West Germany scored, after which the two teams essentially colluded not to score again, ensuring that they would advance while Algeria would be sent home. Despite nearly universal condemnation, the 1-0 result stood.

(Read this fantastic Guardian article for the entire sordid affair.)

By playing the final group matches at the same time, the chances of this happening again are greatly -- though not entirely -- reduced. And, yes, it often makes for an exciting 90 minutes of football. But oh, God, is it hard to follow simultaneous World Cup games.
 
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photos by Keegan Hamilton

The crowd at Meshuggah in the Delmar Loop.

​For all intents and purposes, this was the end of the World Cup's group stage. Yes, there are still several more matches to be played (Brazil vs. Portugal, anyone?) but this is the only game left that really means something to the citizens of the U-S of A.

Just down the street from RFT headquarters in the Delmar Loop, Meshuggah coffee shop is the viewing venue of choice for this one.  They have delicious bagels. They have coffee. They have beer. They have Schlafly Coffee Stout, a combination of coffee and beer.

There's a massive 70-inch plasma screen TV set up upstairs with a couch, some comfy leather chairs and a few scattered tables. It's already packed, though, so much so that this is being typed from a seat on the floor.

For those who chose to sit somewhere in an actual chair or were stuck at the office, here's a running diary of what transpired.

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